Seat structure



y 1943- c. H. OERMANN 2,325,270

SEAT STRUCTURE Filed May 9} 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Bnvcutor CARL HOERMANN Gtforncg July 27, 1943. c H OERMANN 2,325,279

SEAT STRUCTURE Filed May 9, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Enventor V CARLHOERMANN Cltiorneg .ments.

Patented July 27, 1943 UNITED ,STATES PATENT OFF l-CE r g 125325370 .I. e

. SEATSTRUCTUBE Cari H, Oermann, York, 'Pa. 'tapplication May 9, lath Serial No. 392,602

, l'Claims.

This invention relates-to furniturelan'dimore particularly to the seat structure of--=-chairs, gliders, couches, benches and thellike. I

An object of the invention isto provideanimproved seat structure in which thebackfiandthe seat portions are formed frornliaisinglepiece of thin, flexible sheet metal.

Another object of the invention isto provide an improved seat struc'ture'in whichlthe single piece of sheet metal which constitutes the back and the seat is flexiblysupported in .a suitable frame.

Another object of .the invention is to provide an improved seat structure .in which the frame for supporting the back and the seat may be formed of a flexible tubular metalxmember,

Another object of tthe'zinventionisito provide an improved seat structurelin which the several parts are adapted'to be secured together with a minimum number of attaching .or vholding .ele-

With the foregoing and other objects andl'advantages in view, the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts which will behereinafter: morerfullyjdescribed and claimed. l

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l'is a perspective View of a chair constructed according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and f Fig. 3 is an enlarged rear elevation of the chair shown in Fig. 1. I

Referring to the drawings, the frame for supporting the seat structure, preferably comprises a tubular metal member bent to form base bar portions H, legs I2, and arm rests [3.

The seat M and the back l are formed from a single piece of flexible sheet metal.

The upper transverse edge of the back portion I5 is rolled or curved, as indicated at 16, and the transverse edge portion at the front of the seat I4 is likewise rolled or curved, as indicated at H.

The upper arcuate portion provides a convenient head rest at the upper edge of the back I5 for an occupant of the chair, and likewise the arcuate portion l'i provides a comfortable portion at the front edge of the seat.

Between the seat M and the back 55 the seat structure is formed with a curved portion [8, which is adapted to conform somewhat to the shape of the body when the chair is occupied.

The width of the sheet metal used in forming the seat I4 and the back 15 is slightly less than th'e :distance between the legs :[2 and "the arrnrests 13, so that from the upper :portionof the back 15 .to the front portionkof. thesseat 4E4,

' the sides .of thesheetmetal'lare free to :flex :or

the frame, .a crossbar 2!; which mayrb'e'imthe form of an angle iron, is secured'to the legs l2,asindicated"at 22 The-crossbar 2| is disposed at: a pointra suit.- able distance beneath thefront.Dortioniof :the seat It, as'showniinFigs. 2 and.3,ai.1d-said"ba'r 2| isvadapted to-support the, front ends .of a pair of leaf springs 23. t

Each .leaf spring 2,3 has a front downturned portion 24 whichis securedto the-barZ-i byabolt 25. The leaf springs '23 extenclin a ;sligh tarc upwardly and rearwardly, and terminate atya .point'a suitable distance .to. the rear of :the'front edge I! of the seat I4, that is to S3-Y tl'l8 fr3iy6lld3 of the leaf springs'are disposed near the-middle oftheseat I:4. I h Also iarranged beneath the seat I 4 in substantially the same vertical plane as each leaf sprin-g 23, is a second pair of leaf springs 26.

The front ends of the leaf springs 26 are secured to the front edge I! of the seat [4 by bolts 21. I

The leaf springs 26 are somewhat in the form of an ogee curve, in side elevation, as shown in Fig. 2, and said leaf springs 26 extend from the front edge I! of the seat l4 rearwardly and their rear-end portions underlie the rear ends of the leaf springs 23. Each'pair of leaf springs 23, 26

is secured to the seat [4 by a bolt 21.

The manner in which the seat is connected to the frame of the chair is such that the seat I4 is supported from the cross bar 2| by the pair of leaf springs 23, and the front edge portion I! of the seat is connected to the main body of the seat l4 and thereby supported therefrom, by the leaf springs 26. By thus flexibly connecting the seat Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. Seat structure comprising a frame formed of tubular metal bent in loop form to provide a base, front legs, and arm rests, the sides of said loop being bent upwardly and inwardly at the rear extremities of the arm rests to form back supporting portions, a transverse bar fastened to the leg portions of said frame at a point beneath said arm rests, a single sheet of flexible metal forming the back and the seat of said structure, said seat extending forwardly of said transverse bar and said legs, means for securing the back portion of said flexible metal sheet to the back supporting portions of said frame, a pair of leaf springs mounted beneath the seat portion of said metal sheet and extending from an intermediate portion of said seat forwardly to said transverse bar and secured thereto, and a second pair of leaf springs of ogee form disposed in substantially the samevertical planes beneath the first pair of leaf springs and extending forwardly beneath said transverse bar and. secured at their forward ends to'the front portion of said seat,'the leaf springs in' each'vertical plane being 'securedto the seat by a'single fastening element. z

2. Seat structure comprising a frame formed to provide a base, front legs, andrarm rests, the sides of said frame being bent upwardly and inwardly at the rear extremities of the arm rests -to form back supporting portions, atransverse bar fastened to the leg portions of said frame at a point beneath said arm restsfa single'sheet of metal forming the back and the seat of said structure, said seat extending forwardly of said'transverse bar and said legs, means for securing the back portion of'said metal sheet to the back supporting portions, apair of resilient elements mounted beneaththe seat portion of said. metal sheet and extending from an intermediate portion of said -metal-sheet forwardly'to said'transverse bar and secured thereto, and a'second pair. of resilient elements disposed in substantially the same vertical planes beneath the firstpair of resilient elements and extending forwardl'y beneath said transverse bar and secured at their forward ends to the frontportion of said seat, the resilient elements in each vertical plane being secured to the seat by a single fastening element.

3. Seat structure comprising a frame formed of tubular metal bent in loop form to provide a base, front legs, and arm rests, the sides of the loop being bent upwardly and inwardly at the rear extremities of the arm rests to form back supporting portions, a cross bar fastened to the leg portions of said frame at a.point beneath said arm rests, asingle sheetof flexible metal forming the back and the seat of said structure, said seat extending forwardly of said cross bar, means for securing the back portion of said metal sheet to the back supporting portions, a pair-of leaf springsmounted beneath the seat portion of said metal sheet and extending from an intermediate portion of said seat forwardly to said cross bar and secured thereto, and a second pair of leaf springs disposed in substantially the same vertical planes beneath the first pair of leaf springs and extending forwardly beneath said cross bar and secured at their forward ends to the front portion of said seat, the leaf springs in each verticalplane being secured to the seat by a single fastening element;

4. Seat structure comprising a frame formed to provide front legs and arm rests, the sides of said frame being-shaped at the rear extremities of the arm rests to form back supporting portions, a transverse bar fastened to the leg portions of said frame, a member forming the back and the seat of said structure, said seat extending forwardly of said transverse bar, means securing the back portion of said member to the back supporting portionsof said frame, a pair of resilient elements mounted beneath the seat and extending from an. intermediate portion ofsaid seat forwardly to said transverse bar and secured thereto, and a second pair'of resilient elements mounted beneath the seat and disposed in substantially the same vertical planes beneath the first pair of resilient elements and extending from an intermediate portion of said seat forwardly beneath said transverse bar and secured at their forward ends to the front portion of the seat.

CARL 1i. OERMANN. 

